Stamped rear frame bolster

ABSTRACT

A rear bolster for a cargo transport includes a sheet metal stamping having a forward side configured to face under the cargo transport, and a rear side configured to face rearward of the cargo transport. A vertically-extending base surface is formed by the rear side. A left taillight mount is provided adjacent a left widthwise end of the sheet metal stamping. A right taillight mount is provided adjacent a right widthwise end of the sheet metal stamping. A relief is embossed rearwardly from the base surface to form a loading dock engagement feature. The relief includes a first portion extending over and/or under the left taillight mount, a second portion extending over and/or under the right taillight mount, and a third portion continuous with the first and second portions and extending between the left and right taillight mounts.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/532,807, filed Aug. 6, 2019, which claims priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/715,648, filed Aug. 7, 2018, theentire contents of both of which are incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

The disclosure relates to the construction of cargo transports, such asvehicles for over-the-road freight hauling. These may include enclosedand open trailers (e.g., semi-trailers), box trucks, and vans, forexample. The disclosure further relates to rear frames thereof.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a rear bolster for acargo transport. The rear bolster includes a sheet metal stamping havinga forward side configured to face under the cargo transport, and a rearside configured to face rearward of the cargo transport. Avertically-extending base surface is formed by the rear side. A lefttaillight mount is provided adjacent a left widthwise end of the sheetmetal stamping. A right taillight mount is provided adjacent a rightwidthwise end of the sheet metal stamping. A relief is embossedrearwardly from the base surface to form a loading dock engagementfeature. The relief includes a first portion extending over and/or underthe left taillight mount, a second portion extending over and/or underthe right taillight mount, and a third portion continuous with the firstand second portions and extending between the left and right taillightmounts.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a rear bolster for acargo transport. The rear bolster includes a sheet metal stamping havinga forward side configured to face under the cargo transport, and a rearside configured to face rearward of the cargo transport. Avertically-extending base surface is formed by the rear side. A lefttaillight mount is provided adjacent a left widthwise end of the sheetmetal stamping. A right taillight mount is provided adjacent a rightwidthwise end of the sheet metal stamping. A relief is embossedrearwardly from the base surface to form a loading dock engagementfeature, the relief including a first portion extending continuouslyfrom the left widthwise end to the right widthwise end. The firstportion extends one of over or under the left taillight mount and one ofover or under the right taillight mount. The relief further includes asecond portion extending the other of over or under the left taillightmount. The relief further includes a third portion extending the otherof over or under the right taillight mount. The first and second reliefportions converge on an inboard side of the left taillight mount, andthe first and third relief portions converge on an inboard side of theright taillight mount.

In yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides a rear bolsterfor a cargo transport. The rear bolster includes a sheet metal stampinghaving a forward side configured to face under the cargo transport, anda rear side configured to face rearward of the cargo transport. Avertically-extending base surface is formed by the rear side. A lefttaillight mount is provided adjacent a left widthwise end of the sheetmetal stamping. A right taillight mount is provided adjacent a rightwidthwise end of the sheet metal stamping. A relief is embossed from thebase surface to form a loading dock engagement feature, at least aportion of the relief extending over and/or under each of the left andright taillight mounts, and a portion of the relief extending betweenthe left and right taillight mounts. The relief, at each widthwiseposition, defines a cross-section shape, and wherein the cross-sectionshape changes throughout the relief.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rear portion of a cargo transportincluding a stamped rear bolster according to one embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the stamped rear bolster.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the stamped rear bolster.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the stamped rear bolster.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the stamped rear bolster prior to finalforming.

FIG. 6 is an end view of the stamped rear bolster as shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the stamped rear bolster taken alongline 7-7 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the stamped rear bolster taken alongline 8-8 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a front side of the stamped rear bolsterhaving an optional backing plate.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a stamped rear bolster according toanother embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a rear view of the stamped rear bolster of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is an end view of the stamped rear bolster of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a front view of the stamped rear bolster of FIG. 10 prior tofinal forming.

FIG. 14 is an end view of the stamped rear bolster as shown in FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a rear portion of a cargo transport such as a trailer18. For example, the cargo transport 18 can be a semi-trailer or otherover-the-road cargo hauler (e.g., for attachment with a road tractor informing a so-called 18-wheeler). The illustrated cargo transport 18 isan enclosed semi-trailer having a load floor for receiving andsupporting cargo for transport, front, left side, and right side wallsextending upward from the load floor, a roof extending over the loadfloor, and a rear opening selectively closeable by one or more doors(not shown). The cargo transport 18 can have a length of 53 feet,although the cargo transport 18 can have a length greater than or lessthan 53 feet in other constructions. Aspects of the invention may not belimited to enclosed semi-trailers as illustrated, and it will beunderstood that features described herein may also apply to many othertypes of cargo transports. The cargo transport 18 has a rear frame 20including a rear bolster 24, a pair of vertical posts 26, and an uppercross member 30. The vertical posts 26 are laterally spaced to define awidth W of the rear frame 20. The rear bolster 24 spans between thevertical posts 26 at their lower ends. The upper cross member 30 spansbetween the vertical posts 26 at their upper ends, generally parallel toand above the rear bolster 24. A rear cargo opening into the cargovolume of the cargo transport 18 is defined by the rear frame 20. Thedoor(s) can be supported on the rear frame 20. The rear bolster 24 canbe positioned at the bottom rear edge of the cargo area and a bottomrear edge of the rear frame 20. The character F indicates the forwarddirection, and the character R indicates the rearward direction.Longitudinal bottom rails 28 extend forwardly from the rear bolster 24along the length of the cargo transport 18. The vertical posts 26 canhave a hollow box structure, or other suitable construction. Opposinglateral distal ends of the rear bolster 24 are secured to (e.g., weldedto) the vertical posts 26, for example at the bottom ends of therespective vertical posts 26.

The rear bolster 24 can be constructed as a stamped article, “astamping,” and particularly a sheet metal stamping. The rear bolster 24can be stamped into shape, e.g., the final shape as shown in FIGS. 1-4,from a single flat metal sheet. The metal sheet can be a monolithicmetal sheet having a uniform material thickness throughout (e.g.,between ⅛ inch and ¼ inch, such as 8-gauge, or 11/64 inch). Exemplarymaterials include stainless steel, aluminum, among others. At each ofthe outboard ends of the rear bolster 24, there are provided multipletaillight mounts 34, which are shown as a group of two apertures, thougheach group may be provided with different numbers, such as three. Thetaillight mounts 34 are provided in a rear-facing base surface 36 of therear bolster 24 that lies predominantly in a vertical plane P (FIG. 2).The rear bolster 24 includes additional surfaces or panels 37A-37E bentforwardly from the rear-facing base surface 36. For example, in end view(FIG. 2) it can be seen that the upper side of the rear bolster 24includes: a first horizontal panel 37A extending forwardly from a top ofthe base surface 36, a first vertical panel 37B extending downwardlyfrom the first horizontal panel 37A, a second horizontal panel 37Cextending forwardly from the first vertical panel 37B, and a secondvertical panel 37D extending downwardly from the second horizontal panel37C. As illustrated, the rear bolster 24 terminates at a bottom edge ofthe second vertical panel 37D. An additional horizontal panel 37Eextends forwardly from a bottom of the base surface 36. FIGS. 5 and 6illustrate the rear bolster 24 prior to final forming, in a state wherethe additional panels 37A-37E are not yet put into place. Rather thematerial to form the additional panels 37A-37E lies in-plane with thebase surface 36.

Furthermore, a relief 38 is stamped, or in other words pressed orembossed, into the base surface 36 to protrude therefrom. The relief 38is raised from the base surface 36 in the rearward direction R as shown,and may generally be referred to as a dock impact or engagementfeature(s). The relief 38 includes a relief portion 38A at each outboardend at least partially surrounding (e.g., above and/or below) therespective taillight mounts 34 (and the requisite taillights, oncemounted). Each outboard relief portion 38A has a horizontally-extendingyoke or fork shape in which upper and lower linear portions jointogether at an inboard side of the taillight mounts 34. The outerprofile of the fork shape in each outboard relief portion 38A where thelinear portions come together can define a constant or variable radiusR1 (i.e., four separate radiused portions in total). In some aspects,the radius R1 is between 5 and 7 inches. In addition, the two outboardrelief portions 38A can be connected to each other by a relief portion38B in the form of a horizontally-extending channel, bar, or beam. Thus,as illustrated, the various relief portions 38A, 38B are formed as anintegral stamped relief 38 in the rear bolster 24. However, thecross-sections of the various relief portions 38A, 38B are notnecessarily uniform.

As shown in the end view of FIG. 2, the central relief portion 38Bbetween the outboard relief portions 38A extends further rearward fromthe plane P defined by the base surface 36. Particularly, and withfurther reference to the cross-sections of FIGS. 7 and 8, the centralrelief portion 38B defines a first fore-aft depth D1 from the plane Pand the outboard relief portions 38A define a second lesser fore-aftdepth D2 from the plane P. As such, the central relief portion 38Bbetween the outboard relief portions 38A may exclusively make contactwith a loading dock structure of a building, or may limit the amount ofcontact between the loading dock structure and the outboard reliefportions 38A. This can protect the outboard relief portions 38A fromdamage, particularly when a trailer's front end is hoisted up and/or letdown while the rear bolster 24 is pressed into contact with the loadingdock structure. The central relief portion 38B may extend furtherrearward than the outboard relief portions 38A by at least 0.40 inch (10mm), and in some constructions at least 0.80 inch (20 mm) (e.g., lessthan 2 inches, in other words up to but not exceeding 50 mm). Theoutboard relief portions 38A may be raised from the base surface 36 suchthat the depth D2 is 1.0 inch (25 mm) or more (e.g., 1.4 to 1.6 inches(35 to 41 mm)). The central relief portion 38B may be raised from thebase surface 36 such that the depth D1 is at least 1.6 inches (40 mm)(e.g., 1.6 to 2.4 inches (40 to 61 mm)).

As shown in FIG. 7, the central relief portion 38B can have a flat landsurface 44. The flat land surface of the central relief portion 38B canbe a vertically oriented surface having a height H of 0.80 inch (20 mm)or more. In cross-section, the central relief portion 38B can begenerally trapezoidal. For example, wall sections extending (e.g.,extending straight) from the base surface 36 to the flat land surface 44can be tapered to reduce in height toward the flat land surface 44. Onthe other hand, the outboard relief portions 38A can have a radius ofcurvature R2, without flat lands, at their rearward extents. The radiusR2, which can be constant or variable, is between 0.2 and 0.5 inches (5to 13 mm) in some constructions. The radius R2 can assist in easingsliding along a surface of a loading dock structure.

By stamping the relief 38 into the rear bolster 24, substantial weldinglabor is avoided. The relief 38, and other portions of the rear bolster24, can be designed for handling the loading requirements of the rearframe 20, such as rear and side impact load requirements, fork liftdrive-over loading, without weld-on reinforcements. Stressconcentrations can be avoided by rounded corners and transitions. Forexample, each outboard relief 38A has the general shape of a horseshoe,open toward the outboard end, and having a rounded, closed end oppositethereof. As such, the relief 38 as a whole has a double-forked shaped,spanning the width W of the rear bolster 24. As described above, a forkshape is formed at each location where the upper and lower parts of oneof the outboard relief portion 38A merge into the central relief portion38B.

In some constructions, an additional backing plate 142 (FIG. 9) isprovided on the forward side of the rear bolster 24. The backing plate142 can have a flat sheet or plate construction. The backing plate 142can lie directly behind the central relief portion 38B when viewed fromthe rear side. The backing plate 142 can cover all or a portion of thecentral relief portion 38B. In addition, the backing plate 142 may coverat least a portion of each of the outboard relief portions 38A. As shownin FIG. 9, the outboard ends 142A of the backing plate 142 can befork-shaped and can be wider in the vertical direction than the centralportion 142B. The ends 142A can terminate at the respective taillightmounts 34. Additional gusseting may also be provided to reinforce thestamped rear bolster 24. For example, one or more gussets 146 areprovided to span between the panels 37D and 37E of the rear bolster 24.The gusset(s) 146 and/or the backing plate 142 may be attached to therear bolster stamping by welding at one or more individual locations.Although shown together, the gusset(s) 146 and the backing plate 142 maybe used separately without the other in other constructions. Even if thebacking plate 142 and/or gusset(s) 146 are utilized, so that the rearbolster is assembled from more than a single unitary, monolithic sheet,there are no reinforcing structures added to the rear bolster stampingon the rear-facing side (e.g., on the base surface 36).

FIGS. 10-14 illustrate a rear bolster 224 according to a secondembodiment. The rear bolster 224 can be part of the rear frame 20 of thecargo transport 18 of FIG. 1 as a substitute for the rear bolster 24.Details of the rear frame 20 are referenced from the precedingdescription. Further, the rear bolster 224 can be similar in manyrespects to the rear bolster 24 of FIGS. 1-9, reference being made tothe above description. Similar features use similar reference numbersfrom FIGS. 1-9, incremented with a leading “2” for the rear bolster 224,and the detailed description below focuses primarily on the features ofthe rear bolster 224 not previously described. It is also noted thatcertain features, which are common to the rear bolsters 24, 224, may bedescribed and labeled in only one of the two embodiments.

The rear bolster 224 can be constructed as a stamped article, stampedinto the shape of FIGS. 10-12, from a single flat metal sheet. The rearbolster 224 includes a rear-facing base surface 236 that liespredominantly in a vertical plane P, and further includes additionalsurfaces or panels 237A-237E bent forwardly from the rear-facing basesurface 236. FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate the rear bolster 224 prior tofinal forming, in a state where the additional panels 237A-237E are notyet put into place. Furthermore, a relief 238 is stamped, or in otherwords pressed or embossed, into the base surface 236 to protrudetherefrom in the rearward direction R, and may generally be referred toas a dock impact or engagement feature(s).

The relief 238 can include multiple sections or portions. As shown, therelief 238 includes a relief portion 238A at each outboard end at leastpartially surrounding (e.g., below) the respective taillight mounts 234(and the requisite taillights, once mounted). The relief portions 238Acan extend exclusively below a top edge of the taillight mounts 234.Each outboard relief portion 238A has a horizontally-extendingtwo-legged shape (e.g., hockey stick shape). The two legs of the reliefportion 238A can be straight segments, although curve profiles areprovided in alternate constructions. The two legs of the relief portion238A form an obtuse angle α. The angle α can be over 115 degrees in someconstructions, e.g., 120 to 150 degrees. The configuration of eachrelief portion 238A is such that it bounds the taillight mounts 234 onthe inboard side. Although shown as being entirely separate and notconnected with each other, the two outboard relief portions 238A can beconnected to each other. Each relief portion 238A can include astraight, horizontal section extending directly below the taillightmounts 234. The other section or leg of the relief portion 238A extendsincreasingly upward in a direction toward a vertical width-dividingcenterline L₁ of the rear bolster 224.

An additional portion 238B of the relief extends widthwise across acentral portion of the rear bolster 224 between the taillight mounts234. The additional relief portion 238B can also at least partiallysurround (e.g., above) the taillight mounts 234. As such, the additionalrelief portion 238B has both central and taillight surround portions.The additional relief portion 238B extends continuously across the widthW of the rear bolster 224, or at least spanning from the left side ofthe left taillight mounts 234 to the right side of the right taillightmounts 234. Although shown as separate and distinct from the reliefportions 238A, the various relief portions 238A, 238B may be continuousor interconnected in other constructions. For example, the two reliefportions 238A can be continuous or interconnected with each other,separate from the additional relief portion 238B, or one or both of therelief portions 238A may be continuous or interconnected with theadditional relief portion 238B. It is also conceived to break theadditional relief portion 238B into two, three, or more distinctsections, or to otherwise provide more than the three illustratedseparate and distinct relief portions consisting of the two reliefportions 238A and the additional relief portion 238B. Despite beingseparate and distinct in the illustrated construction, the additionalrelief portion 238B converges with each respective relief portion 238Aon the inboard side of the taillight mounts 234 (e.g., mutualconvergence toward each other along a direction toward the centerlineL₁, although the convergence may be provided by just one or the otherrelief portion 238A or 238B in other constructions). The additionalrelief portion 238B has a uniform cross-section throughout. However, inother constructions, the cross-section may be non-uniform, for examplelike the portions of the relief 38 of FIGS. 1-9. A central portion ofthe additional relief portion 238B (inboard of the respective taillightmounts 234) can extend along an axis A that intersects the taillightmounts 234 on the left and right sides. The axis A can be awidthwise-extending centerline that bisects the taillight mounts 234.

As shown in the end view of FIG. 11, the additional or upper reliefportion 238B extends further rearward from the plane P defined by thebase surface 36 than the lower relief portions 238A that extend underthe taillight mounts 234. Particularly, the additional relief portion238B defines a first fore-aft depth D3 from the plane P and the reliefportions 238A define a second lesser fore-aft depth D2 from the plane P.As such, the relief portion 238B may exclusively make contact with aloading dock structure of a building, or may limit the amount of contactbetween the loading dock structure and the relief portions 238A. Therelief portion 238B may extend further rearward than the relief portions238A by at least 0.40 inch (10 mm), and in some constructions at least0.8 inch (20 mm), at least 1.0 inch (25 mm), or at least 1.4 inch (35mm) (e.g., less than 2 inches, in other words up to but not exceeding 50mm). The relief portions 238A may be raised from the base surface 36such that the depth D4 is 1.0 inch (25 mm) or less (e.g., 0.08 to 0.4inches (2 to 10 mm)). In other constructions, the depth D4 may conformto the description of the depth D2 of the rear bolster 24. The deeperrelief portion 238B may be raised from the base surface 36 such that thedepth D3 is at least 1.6 inches (40 mm) (e.g., 1.6 to 2.4 inches (40 to61 mm)).

With continued reference to FIG. 11, the relief portion 238B can have aflat land surface 244, e.g., vertically-oriented. The flat land surface244 can have a height H of 0.80 inch (20 mm) or more. A total height H1of each of the relief portions 238A can be less than a total height H2of the additional relief portion 238B as shown in FIG. 11. The totalheights H1, H2 can be measured perpendicular to the width direction,except where the shape of the relief portions 238A, 238B deviate fromhorizontal; those portions having the relief height measured as theshortest distance connecting the base surface 236 across the two sidesof a given relief. A majority of a total length of each of the reliefportions 238A is horizontally-extending along the widthwise direction. Amajority of a total length of the additional relief portion 238B ishorizontally-extending along the widthwise direction. The relief portion238B can be generally trapezoidal in cross-section, as described withthe relief portion 38B above. On the other hand, the relief portions238A can have a radius of curvature R3, without flat lands, at theirrearward extents. The radius R3, which can be constant or variable, isbetween 0.125 and 0.5 inches (3 to 13 mm) in some constructions. Itshould also be noted that, while FIGS. 3 and 11 are not cross-sections,but rather end views, they are equally representative of thecross-section shapes of the rear bolsters 24, 224, and their variousrelief portions shown, at least vertical sections taken through thetaillight mounts 34, 234 or adjacent thereto.

The rear bolster 224 enjoys many or all of the benefits described withrespect to the rear bolster 24. Further, the rear bolster 224 mayprovide additional strength and/or cost advantages. Although the rearbolster 224 may be provided with a backing plate 142 and/or gusset(s)146 as shown in FIG. 9, these are not provided in other constructions.In either case, there are no reinforcing structures added to the rearbolster stamping on the rear-facing side (e.g., on the base surface236).

The embodiments described above and illustrated in the figures arepresented by way of example only and are not intended as a limitationupon the concepts and principles of the present invention. As such, itwill be appreciated by one having ordinary skill in the art that variouschanges in the elements and their configuration and arrangement arepossible without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention as set forth in the appended claims. For example, one havingordinary skill in the art will appreciate that specific features of thenumerous embodiments disclosed may be mixed and matched in other wayswhere not specifically inhibited, even though specific illustration ofsuch embodiments may not be exhaustively covered herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A rear bolster for a cargo transport, the rearbolster comprising: a sheet metal stamping having a forward sideconfigured to face under the cargo transport, and a rear side configuredto face rearward of the cargo transport; a vertically-extending basesurface formed by the rear side; a left taillight mount adjacent a leftwidthwise end of the sheet metal stamping; a right taillight mountadjacent a right widthwise end of the sheet metal stamping; and a reliefembossed rearwardly from the base surface to form a loading dockengagement feature, wherein the relief includes a first portionextending over and/or under the left taillight mount, a second portionextending over and/or under the right taillight mount, and a thirdportion continuous with the first and second portions and extendingbetween the left and right taillight mounts.
 2. The cargo transport rearframe of claim 1, wherein the third portion extends along an axis thatintersects the left and right taillight mounts.
 3. The cargo transportrear frame of claim 1, wherein the first and second portions extend overthe respective left and right taillight mounts, the relief furthercomprising a fourth portion extending under the left taillight mount anda fifth portion extending under the right taillight mount, wherein thefourth and fifth portions of the relief are separate and distinct fromthe first, second, and third portions.
 4. The cargo transport rear frameof claim 3, wherein a depth, measured from the base surface, of thefourth and fifth portions of the relief is less than a depth, measuredfrom the base surface, of the first and second portions of the relief.5. The cargo transport rear frame of claim 3, wherein a cross-sectionshape of the fourth and fifth portions of the relief is different than across-section shape of the first, second, and third portions of therelief.
 6. The cargo transport rear frame of claim 1, wherein the basesurface of the sheet metal stamping of the rear bolster is formed as afirst panel of the stamping, the sheet metal stamping further includingat least one additional panel bent forwardly from a top or bottom edgeof the first panel.
 7. The cargo transport rear frame of claim 1,wherein the rear bolster further comprises a backing plate formedseparately from the sheet metal stamping having the embossed relief, thebacking plate providing a reinforcement along the forward side thatcovers at least a portion of the embossed relief.
 8. A rear bolster fora cargo transport, the rear bolster comprising: a sheet metal stampinghaving a forward side configured to face under the cargo transport, anda rear side configured to face rearward of the cargo transport; avertically-extending base surface formed by the rear side; a lefttaillight mount adjacent a left widthwise end of the sheet metalstamping; a right taillight mount adjacent a right widthwise end of thesheet metal stamping; and a relief embossed rearwardly from the basesurface to form a loading dock engagement feature, wherein the reliefincludes a first portion extending continuously from the left widthwiseend to the right widthwise end, the first portion extending one of overor under the left taillight mount and one of over or under the righttaillight mount, the relief further including a second portion extendingthe other of over or under the left taillight mount, and the relieffurther including a third portion extending the other of over or underthe right taillight mount, wherein the first and second relief portionsconverge on an inboard side of the left taillight mount, and wherein thefirst and third relief portions converge on an inboard side of the righttaillight mount.
 9. The rear bolster of claim 8, wherein the second andthird relief portions are separate and distinct from the first reliefportion.
 10. The rear bolster of claim 8, wherein the second and thirdrelief portions are continuous with the first relief portion so that therelief forms a fork-shape at each end, around the respective left andright taillight mounts.
 11. The rear bolster of claim 8, wherein thefirst relief portion of the embossed relief is extended farther rearwardthan the second and third portions.
 12. The rear bolster of claim 11,wherein the first relief portion is extended farther rearward than thesecond and third relief portions by at least 10 mm and not more than 50mm.
 13. The rear bolster of claim 11, wherein the first relief portionis extended farther rearward than the second and third relief portionsby at least 25 mm.
 14. The rear bolster of claim 11, wherein the firstrelief portion is extended farther rearward than the second and thirdrelief portions by at least 35 mm.
 15. The rear bolster of claim 13,wherein in each of the second and third relief portions has a curvedrear end profile in cross-section taken perpendicular to the widthdirection, and wherein the first relief portion has a flat rear endprofile.
 16. The rear bolster of claim 8, wherein a total height of eachof the second and third relief portions is less than a total height ofthe first relief portion.
 17. The rear bolster of claim 8, wherein amajority of a total length of the first relief portion ishorizontally-extending along a widthwise direction, and wherein amajority of a total length of each of the second and third reliefportions is horizontally-extending along the widthwise direction. 18.The rear bolster of claim 8, wherein the base surface of the sheet metalstamping of the rear bolster is formed as a first panel of the stamping,the sheet metal stamping further including at least one additional panelbent in the forward direction from the top edge or the bottom edge. 19.The rear bolster of claim 8, wherein the rear bolster further comprisesa backing plate formed separately from the sheet metal stamping havingthe embossed relief, the backing plate providing a reinforcement alongthe first side that covers at least a portion of the embossed relief.20. A rear bolster for a cargo transport, the rear bolster comprising: asheet metal stamping having a forward side configured to face under thecargo transport, and a rear side configured to face rearward of thecargo transport; a vertically-extending base surface formed by the rearside; a left taillight mount adjacent a left widthwise end of the sheetmetal stamping; a right taillight mount adjacent a right widthwise endof the sheet metal stamping; and a relief embossed from the base surfaceto form a loading dock engagement feature, wherein at least a portion ofthe relief extends over and/or under each of the left and righttaillight mounts, and a portion of the relief extends between the leftand right taillight mounts, wherein the relief, at each widthwiseposition, defines a cross-section shape, and wherein the cross-sectionshape changes throughout the relief.